2016-09-30T15:59:23-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

The announcement from the Archdiocese:   The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis today announced that an allegation has been brought by a mandated reporter within the Church to the St. Paul Police of inappropriate touching of a minor male on the buttocks by Archbishop John Nienstedt. The single incident is alleged to have occurred in 2009 during a group photography session with the archbishop following a confirmation ceremony. Archbishop Nienstedt emphatically denies the allegation. Upon learning of the allegation... Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:23-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

Check out this lovely video from Vatican television, in honor of the pontiff’s 77th birthday. Read more

2015-03-13T16:35:11-04:00

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:35 pm   By

Last month, I posted on the ordination of new deacons for Oakland. This week, the diocesan newspaper has more: In his homily, Bishop [Michael] Barber told the deacons that they are ordained at the “bishop’s hands, but Christ’s touch.” The roots of the diaconate are in the early church, he said. As the apostles were needed to carry the Word of God, they chose “some strong and reliable men to carry on the church’s charitable work.” Bishop Barber recalled his... Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:23-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

Details:  Beer probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind when you think of the word “monastery” – but since receiving official recognition on Dec. 10, Saint Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Mass., will become the first American brewery to be manned exclusively by Trappist monks. The beer, labeled “The Spencer Trappist Ale,” is to be brewed exclusively within the walls of the monastery. Founded in 1950 by members of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists, Saint... Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:23-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

From Deacon Bill Ditewig:  Happy to report healing on all fronts, thanks to the amazing outpouring of prayer and concern of so many people. First, our four-year old grandson, Vinny, is recovering from successful brain surgery, during which the surgeon removed a tumor the size of the surgeon’s fist.  Vinny is in for a long recovery, but he’s already out of bed a bit, eating solid food and being delightfully cranky to everyone around him!  The surgeon told our daughter... Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:24-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

Last week, New Evangelist TJ Burdick invited me to do a Skype interview for his website, Catholic Snacks. I was happy to oblige. I’d contributed to TJ’s e-book, “One Body, Many Blogs,” and have admired the work he’s doing here on the digital continent. The conversation ended up being a lot of fun.  We talked about the diaconate, formation, and challenges that deacons face. It was my first time doing something like this. You can see the results right here.... Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:24-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

Who knew? A fascinating glimpse at this rare entryway, from CNS: From The Star: The door — two-sided bronze, with Christ on one side, Mary on the other — will be opened for one year and then locked until the next time the Holy Doors in Rome are opened, in 2025. The door is on the left side of the cathedral. Workers broke open a wall to create the door, which now leads from a garden into what was a... Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:24-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

It begins with the election of a pope and ends with an exorcism. Fascinating and balanced.  And deeply moving. Kudos to correspondent Bob Simon and producer Harry Radliffe for giving viewers a glimpse into this corner of the Christian world. Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:24-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

First TIME, now this.  I can’t help but smile. From James Carroll’s profile of the pope in the magazine: The press is obsessed with him. Time recently named him Person of the Year. The Huffington Post reported the speculation that Francis, garbed as a lowly priest, steals out of the Vatican at night to care for Rome’s homeless. Legends like that suggest a new readiness to look at what a Pope can be. Francis is clearly a world figure, but a figure of... Read more

2016-09-30T15:59:24-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm   By

From David Gibson:  After last month’s annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I wrote a story handicapping the four American churchman who enjoyed growing influence in the new(ish) pontificate of Pope Francis. They were Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, who is one of the eight members of Francis “kitchen cabinet” of advisors on reforming the Roman Curia; Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, who was elected vice-president of the USCCB and is the likely incoming president in three years; Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, whose advice... Read more

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